Staff redundancies at Vertu Dorchester as cost rises force shut down

Vertu’s BMW dealership in Dorchester is closing, leaving a dozen employees facing redundancy.

Vertu Dorchester, located on Prince of Wales Road, said rising operational costs have made the site "not viable," leading to its closure after decades of service.

While some employees will transition to positions at the company’s Yeovil branch, others have been placed at risk of redundancy.

The closure also leaves west Dorset without a BMW dealership with customers in the area now needing to travel to Yeovil or Poole for sales and services

In an email to customers, Vertu Dorchester confirmed December 6 as its final day of operation. Customer accounts are being transferred to the Yeovil branch.

A spokesperson for Vertu Dorchester stated: “Following an assessment of the financial viability of the operation and discussions with the manufacturer, we concluded the dealership was no longer sustainable due to increased costs. We have supported affected colleagues, with some transferring to our Yeovil dealership while others have unfortunately been put at risk of redundancy.”